Me: Nice. Okay, what are your thoughts on the game? Do you think the Knicks will win?

Yoda. Win, the Knicks shall. Overrated is Philadelphia.

Me: What’s a 76er?

Yoda: Shitty basketball team, I think.

Me: Who’s your least favorite 76er player?

Yoda: Evan Turner. Underachiever, he is. Act like a tool, he does.

Me: What are your thoughts on Jeremy Lin?

Yoda: Powerful Jedi is he. Powerful Jedi.

Me: Some people say the league has adjusted to stop Lin. Do you believe that? What must he improve on?

Yoda: A Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side he must. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once he starts down the dark path, forever will it dominate his destiny, consume him it will.

Me: What is your opinion of Carmelo Anthony?

Yoda: Twisted by the Dark Side, young Anthony has become.

Me: Woah, woah. You’re saying Anthony is a Sith?

Yoda: Joined the Dark Side Anthony has. Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways now.

Me: Interesting. What is your opinion of James Dolan?

Yoda: If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of D’Antoni, then he must be forcibly removed from office.

Me: How can he be removed? He owns the Knicks. Nobody can take his control of the team.

Yoda: Not if anything to say about it I have!

Me: Do you think Isiah Thomas still has influence on this team? He’s friends with Dolan, but no longer is employed by the team.

Yoda: Always two there are, a master and an apprentice.

Me: Who is the master? Isiah?

Yoda: For you to find out that is.

Me: Anyways, lets get back to Anthony. It was basically prophecy that he would come here and lead this team to a championship. What has gone wrong so far?

Yoda: A prophecy that misread could have been.

Me: Hypothetically speaking, do you think you could train Anthony? Could you get him to adjust his game to fit a team oriented system?

Yoda: I cannot teach him. The boy has no patience.

Me: Lets talk about Mike D’Antoni real quick. Do you think he gave up on this team? Did he stop trying because Anthony was unwilling to listen?

Yoda: You think Yoda stops teaching, just because his student does not want to hear? A teacher Yoda is. Yoda teaches like drunkards drink, like killers kill.

Me: So you think he should have stuck with coaching this team?

Yoda: A coach must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. Mike D’Antoni did not.

Me: So you’re not a fan of D’Antoni?

Yoda: Mmm. Lost a locker room, coach D’Antoni did. How embarrassing. How embarrassing.

Me: Haha. You’re in prime form today, Master Yoda.

Yoda: A Jedi’s strength flows from the Force.

Me: So anyways, back to the game. What’s your opinion on Amar’e Stoudemire? He doesn’t seem to have that same pep in his step. In your opinion, do you think he’ll ever get it back?

Yoda: Difficult to tell. Always in motion is the future is.

Me: Who leads the Knicks in points tonight?

Yoda: Difficult to tell. Always in motion is the future is.

Me: Oh. Well, who do you think the player of the game will be tonight?

Yoda: Difficult to tell. Always in motion is the future is.

Me: Okay. I think this is the end of our interview. Thank you for your time, Master Jedi.

Yoda: Nothing more will I teach you today. Clear your mind of questions.

Me: Thanks Yoda.

Some other notes for the game:

Baron Davis’ status for tonight is unknown, but I doubt he suits up. He didn’t play last night and I don’t foresee the Knicks rushing him back. His health down the stretch is more important than rushing him back, despite that fact that tonight is a big game.

Spencer Hawes is back for the Sixers. He was out last time these two teams played. Philadelphia is much better with Hawes in the lineup, so tonight should be a tough one for the Knicks.

A win tonight would put the Knicks just 3 games back of division leading Philadelphia. A loss would put them 5 games back and would make the Knicks road to the division lead that much harder. I don’t see the Knicks gaining 5 games on the Sixers, especially because this is the last matchup of the season for these two teams.